To Stay Energy Efficient As You Age, Keep On Running

17 Feb To Stay Energy Efficient As You Age, Keep On Running

Walking is a simple thing that becomes really, really important as we age. Being able to get around on our feet for extended periods of time not only makes everyday life easier, it’s linked to fewer hospitalizations and greater longevity. As we get older, though, the body takes about 15 to 20 percent more energy to cover the same terrain.

And that can be a problem, says Justus Ortega, a kinesiologist at Humboldt State University in Arcata, Calif. “If people have more fatigue, they have less desire to participate” in walking, he tells Shots.